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The forward lines that Islanders head coach Lane Lambert thought would last a considerable amount of time lasted for fewer than two weeks.
This is not due to the coach’s tinkering as much as it is due to Jean-Gabriel Pageau’s injury. After Pageau was placed on injured reserve Thursday, retroactive to February 11, the Islanders rolled out fresh lines for their 5-4 victory over the Penguins on Friday night.
Anders Lee was most notably shifted to the top line with Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal. Zach Parise replaced Lee with Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri on the second line. Josh Bailey was placed with Casey Cizikas and Simon Holmstrom on the third line. Andy Andreoff, who was recalled from AHL Bridgeport on Thursday, played the center position on the fourth line between Matt Martin and Hudson Fasching.
“He forechecks extremely hard and then goes to the net, as does Horvat,” Lambert said Thursday of placing Lee on the top line. “Horvat also goes to the net, so there is a dual-threat presence in front of the net, which offers Barzal a chance. Nevertheless, [Lee] is a player who can engage in the forecheck and retrieve pucks.”
Anders Lee (27), Bo Horvat (14), and Mathew Barzal (13) of the Islanders. NHLI through Getty Images.
The expectation was that Lee would find his groove among the two finest offensive players for the Islanders. And that hope was immediately realized, as Lee scored two goals during the frantic comeback victory, his first goals since February.
Parise’s game-winning goal was his 15th of the season. After Bailey departed the game with an unknown injury at 16:17 of the second period, Lambert was forced to rely largely on his top six for the remaining 20 minutes.
In what may have been the Islanders’ biggest victory of the season, the coach was happy to make that sacrifice.
After the game, Lambert did not have an update on Bailey’s condition. In addition, he did not indicate before to the game whether Pageau would go to Boston with the squad for Saturday’s game.
Lee, Barzal, and Horvat all logged more than 20 minutes of ice time, with Horvat playing the most at 24:18.
Parise participated in his 1,200th game, placing him thirteenth among active NHL players, but more than 500 games behind Joe Thornton in first. Jeff Carter and Sidney Crosby, two additional participants in Friday’s game, are among the top 15 active players.
Nelson extended his point run to 12 games with two goals and an assist, the most for an Islander since John Tavares in 2011-12.
»Islanders adjust lines after Jean-Gabriel Pageau’s injury«